Build a Android custom launcher

Question

I am building a custom launcher for a kid mode app. I have followed this link to create a launcher picker to let user choose my app as their default launcher.

The problem is if there is a default launcher in their devices, the code in the link above doesn't work. I am testing on Zenphone5, Android 4.4.2. I have seen some people have the same problem create launcher picker on Android 4.4.2.

I have searched everywhere on how to create a launcher picker like these: Nester, iWawa. How can they do that?

AndroidManifest:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    package="ttb.com.kidmode">

<!-- Hide status bar -->
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW"/>

<!-- Hide the recent apps -->
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REORDER_TASKS" />

<application
    android:allowBackup="true"
    android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
    android:label="@string/app_name"
    android:theme="@android:style/Theme.Holo.Light">
    <activity android:name=".activity.MainActivity">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>
    <activity
        android:name=".activity.KidModeActivity"
        android:enabled="false">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity>
</application>

Create launcher picker dialog:

if (isMyLauncherDefault() == false) { // enable fake home to force system to clear default

    Log.v(">>>", "false");
    ComponentName launcherActivity = new ComponentName(this, KidModeActivity.class);
    getPackageManager().setComponentEnabledSetting(launcherActivity,
            PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_ENABLED, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
    goHome();

} else {
    // Go home
    goHome();
}

Pressing the Home button:

private void goHome() {
    Intent startMain = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_MAIN);
    startMain.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_HOME);
    startMain.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
    startActivity(startMain);
}

EDIT

The full story is: "I open my app, and click a button to go to my launcher -> nothing happens (because another launcher is set as default). If I open that launcher setting (Setting -> Apps -> ..) and click "Clear Default", then open my app again, click button to go to my launcher -> The dialog will show up. From now, the code works well". I dont want to open setting to click "Clear Defalt"

Answer 1

you need to give "<category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />" in Intent-filter of Androidmanifest.xml file.

please refer below link. http://arnab.ch/blog/2013/08/how-to-write-custom-launcher-app-in-android/

Answer 2

If the you have the same problem as me, here is the answer that I have found for 2 months. Hope it help someone.

If this link doesn't work.

Here is the solution: Use activity-alias

AndroidManifest.xml

<activity
        android:name=".activity.KidModeActivity"
        android:exported="true"
        android:launchMode="singleTask">
    </activity>
    <activity-alias
        android:name="LauncherAlias1"
        android:label="Kids Mode Launcher"
        android:targetActivity=".activity.KidModeActivity" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity-alias>

    <activity-alias
        android:name="LauncherAlias2"
        android:enabled="false"
        android:targetActivity=".activity.KidModeActivity" >
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.MAIN" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.HOME" />
            <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
        </intent-filter>
    </activity-alias>

somewhere create the launcher picker:

    public static void createLauncherPicker(Context context) {
    Log.v(">>>", "create launcher picker");
    PackageManager pm = context.getPackageManager();
    ComponentName cn1 = new ComponentName(GlobalValue.APP_NAME, GlobalValue.LAUNCHER_ALIAS_1); // Ex: "com.kidmod.android", "com.kidmod.android.LauncherAlias1"
    ComponentName cn2 = new ComponentName(GlobalValue.APP_NAME, GlobalValue.LAUNCHER_ALIAS_2);
    int dis = PackageManager.COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED;
    if(pm.getComponentEnabledSetting(cn1) == dis) dis = 3 - dis;
    pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(cn1, dis, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
    pm.setComponentEnabledSetting(cn2, 3 - dis, PackageManager.DONT_KILL_APP);
}

Thanks to this greate answer: link